Report: Bobby Abreu interested in joining Marlins

The Miami Marlins have shed the majority of their long-term payroll this winter, but the Miami Herald reported that a pair of veteran ex-Yankees were interested in playing for manager Mike Redmond's club in 2013.

According to the Herald's Barry Jackson, the agents for pitcher Freddy Garcia and outfielder Bobby Abreu recently told the team's front office that the veterans are among many who would "love to play" in Miami. That was before, however, Garcia agreed to a Minor League deal with the San Diego Padres.

Garcia, 36, went 19-14 with a 4.29 ERA in two seasons overall with the Yankees, and rebounded after a very rough April – one that saw him bumped from the rotation in favor of rookie David Phelps – to finish with a 7-6, 5.20 line in 30 appearances (17 starts) in 2012.

Freddy Garcia has agreed to minor league deal with #padres, source says. Chance to compete for a rotation spot.

Abreu, who turns 39 in March, hit .242 with three home runs and 24 RBI in 100 games and 257 plate appearances for the Angels and Dodgers in 2012. In two-plus seasons in New York, "El Comedulce" hit .295 and had back-to-back seasons with 100 RBI, 100 runs, 170 hits, and 20 steals, narrowly missing also adding 40 doubles to that stat line after finishing 2008 with 39.

Despite being near the end of their careers, both Garcia and Abreu could see significant playing time if they made the Padres and joined the Marlins, respectively, and would likely be very cost-effective options as well. Garcia would anchor the back end of a Padres rotation led by Edinson Volquez and Clayton Richard, while Abreu would likely be competing with journeymen Gorkys Hernandez and Bryan Peterson and 2009 Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan for a reserve outfield spot.